Testing of an Optimization-Simulation Model for Real-Time Flood Operation of River-Reservoir Systems

Abstract

A new methodology was developed for the real-time determination gate control operations of a river-reservoir system to minimize flooding conditions. The methodology is based upon an optimization-simulation model approach interfacing the genetic algorithm within MATLAB with simulation software for short-term rainfall forecasting, rainfall–runoff modeling (HEC-HMS), and a one-dimensional (1D), two-dimensional (2D), and combined 1D and 2D combined unsteady flow models (HEC-RAS). Both real-time rainfall data from next-generation radar (NEXRAD) and gaging stations, and forecasted rainfall are needed to make gate control decisions (reservoir releases) in real-time so that at time t, rainfall is known and rainfall over the future time-period (Δt) to time t + Δt can be forecasted. This new model can be used to manage reservoir release schedules (optimal gate operations) before, during, and after a rainfall event. Through real-time observations and optimal gate controls, downstream water surface elevations are controlled to avoid exceedance of threshold flood levels at target locations throughout a river-reservoir system to minimize the damage. In an example application, an actual river reach with a hypothetical upstream flood control reservoir is modeled in real-time to test the optimization-simulation portion of the overall model.